Theresa Barnes

Lead Consultant for Rheumatology

Theresa is lead consultant for rheumatology at the Countess of Chester Hospital. She has a general rheumatology practice and has special interests in biologic drug delivery, systemic sclerosis and basic laboratory research.

Qualifications

MBChB, BMedSci, MRCP, PhD.

Overview

She is deputy lead for the research and innovation committee at the Countess of Chester Hospital. She has an expanding portfolio of clinical rheumatology research including clinical trials work involving biologic drugs.

Theresa completed her PhD at the University of Liverpool funded by a MRC Clinical Research Fellowship and this work involved examining the role of the innate immune system in Systemic Sclerosis.

Teaching

She mentors GPs and pharmacists undertaking postgraduate diplomas in Rheumatology.

She is mentor for allied professionals undertaking masters qualifications.

She regularly delivers updates on Rheumatology practice for GPs.

She has many years of experience in lecturing to undergraduate medical and paramedical students at the University of Liverpool and now at Chester University.

She has been a PBL tutor for medical students at the University of Liverpool.

She has extensive experience in bedside teaching and PACES teaching for postgraduate doctors.

She has convened a special study module entitled “Management of severe rheumatoid arthritis” for 3 undergraduate medical students twice a year 2008-2011.

Research

Theresa has an expanding portfolio of clinical trials as a principal investigator. The trials focus on novel biologic drugs for rheumatology conditions and novel uses for existing biologic drugs.

She has special interests in systemic sclerosis and biologic drug delivery and has developed specialist clinics in systemic sclerosis and refractory inflammatory arthritis, which help to deliver excellent and consistent pathways of care and serve to aid recruitment into clinical trials and research studies.

In terms of laboratory research I have experience in leukocyte and endothelial cell biology and am developing an interest in microparticle biology particularly as it relates to cross talk between leukocytes and endothelial cells and it’s role in propagating inflammation and cardiovascular risk in rheumatological conditions.